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The NCAA decision to change its rules in regards to NBA Draft early entry created a new holiday for college basketball, not one to rival Selection Sunday or the first two days of NCAA Tournament play, but certainly one a lot of college coaches and fans celebrated.

The NCAA-mandated withdrawal date was Wednesday by 11:59 p.m., and many top players chose another season in college hoops rather than being drafted in the second round ... or maybe not at all.

18Alec Peters, Valparaiso

Overview: Here’s the tricky thing about Peters: His decision to withdraw from the draft could make him one of the top recruits for the 2016-17 season. Peters is in position to graduate from Valpo before next season, and with coach Bryce Drew gone to Vanderbilt — and Peters already having contributed quite a bit to the Valpo program — he might decide he wants a different experience for his final season. Major coaches would go wild for Peters if he were to make himself available: He’s a big man who can contribute in every important category.

17Deonte Burton, Iowa State

Overview: Burton can be a vexing player, often struggling with staying alert on defense or asserting constant effort. But he’s also one of the most difficult players in college basketball to defend because of his 3-point touch, uncommon strength and deft attacking off the bounce. With all the scoring Iowa State loses in Georges Niang and Abdel Nader, Burton has the ability to lead the Cyclones’ offense.

16Amida Brimah, Connecticut

Overview: When Brimah pulled his name off the early entry list, it was hard not to respond with, "Who knew he was on there?" Brimah has been a tremendous shot-blocker since he helped UConn win the NCAA championship as a freshman, but his offensive game took a step back last season because of injury.

But shot-blocking and space-eating have become the most important duties of an NBA center. The Huskies will miss Daniel Hamilton, though not as much as he’ll miss them. But a full, healthy season from Brimah could make UConn a national contender and turn him into a possible first-rounder.

15Dedric Lawson, Memphis

Overview: By returning to the Tigers, Lawson gets the opportunity to play for a coach who has put such frontcourt players as Chuck Hayes, Nazr Mohammed and Jamaal Magloire into the NBA. Building a team around Lawson with the Tigers’ limited numbers will be a challenge, but Lawson could be one of the best returning players in college.

14Jaron Blossomgame, Clemson

Overview: Blossomgame had a ridiculous junior season, and it still didn’t get the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament. There wasn’t a single category in which he did not excel, and he didn’t even get six minutes of rest per night. Is there more help for him this time around?

13Vince Edwards, Purdue

Overview: In truth, teammate Caleb Swanigan — who also entered the draft and returned to the Boilers — is probably a more uncommon sort of player who delivers a physicality that will make Purdue tougher to handle.

But Edwards has the talent and consistency to become a first-option type for Purdue, especially with star center A.J. Hammons gone. It’s big Isaac Haas who will take Hammons’ position, and Swanigan who’ll get a lot of the rebounds Hammons would have grabbed. But if Edwards gets a lot of the leftover shots, then Purdue’s attack will be in great shape.

12Abdul-Malik Abu, NC State

Overview: For all the Pack lost following last season’s struggle, they are widely projected as a top-25 contender. That’s partly because of the addition of elite freshman point guard Dennis Smith, but it would be impossible without the foundation Abu provides at the heart of NC State’s offense and defense.

11Allonzo Trier, Arizona

Overview: The Wildcats’ disappointing end to last season might obscure what Trier delivered in his first season. It is not easy to score that many points as a freshman, especially given that Trier became a focus for opposing defenses, his 3-point touch wasn’t quite NCAA-ready and his periodic defensive struggles limited his minutes. A more experienced Trier could deliver a breakout season.

10Isaiah Briscoe, Kentucky

Overview: A team that will be rich in young talent can certainly benefit from the toughness and competitive fire Briscoe delivers in pretty much every game he enters. He’ll be pushed hard for playing time by freshmen De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk — that is, if they don’t all start together; and there will be some question about whether to deploy Briscoe or Fox as the team’s primary point guard.

All that will be worked out, and there’s no one better at figuring out his team on the fly than coach John Calipari. But if Briscoe is to make a greater impact than those ahead of him on this list, he’ll have to improve as a shooter from percentages of 43.9 (field), 13.5 (3-point) and 46 (free throw).

9Melo Trimble, Maryland

Overview: Trimble is not the ninth-best player to return to college; he could be the best pure college player of them all. However, his team also lost Robert Carter, Diamond Stone, Jake Layman and Rasheed Sulaimon. There’s no one else left who averaged double-figure scoring.

That actually could be the ideal circumstance for Trimble, who showed he can run a team but struggled with his own offense as he wrestled with how to prioritize his shots vs. those created for teammates. He again will be his team’s first option, but he’s experienced enough to elevate such less accomplished players as Jared Nickens and Damonte Dodd.

8Ivan Rabb, California

Overview: Entering the draft would have been so easy. Rabb would have been a top-10 pick, and could have signed a multi-million contract. That Rabb chose to wait and be more prepared before leaving college is without question the riskier, more challenging road.

It worked once for Blake Griffin. It worked, ultimately, for Jared Sullinger, although an injury cost him some draft spots and upfront money. But Rabb’s decision definitely works for Cal, which can build a conference title contender around him.

7Thomas Bryant, Indiana

Overview: It was a surprise Bryant did not take the Deyonta Davis route and bolt for the NBA after a single season in which he accomplished more than anticipated. From a skill standpoint, Bryant actually has more going for him as an NBA prospect, because of his ability to shoot from the perimeter and perhaps fill a stretch-4 role.

But Bryant didn’t even enter the draft, and if Indiana can make either James Blackmon or Josh Newkirk into a suitable playmaker, Bryant could develop into an All-Big Ten first-teamer — or better.

6Trevon Bluiett, Xavier

Overview: It would have been great for Xavier if Jalen Reynolds had returned for another season — and probably great for Reynolds, too — but Bluiett's departure following his sophomore-year advance would have hurt more. Bluiett took 125 more shots than any other Musketeer last season, and replacing that degree of offensive responsibility is a heck of a challenge. His next trick is to improve his finishing and convert more of his two-point attempts.

5Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin

Overview: We projected Hayes as a first-team All-America last season, perhaps a bit intoxicated on the memory of watching his contributions to the Badgers’ runner-up dash in 2015. But we weren’t wasted. Hayes performed like an All-America at times, but struggled so much with a once-reliable shooting touch that it impacted both his junior-year performance and his appeal to NBA teams.

In March tournament games, he shot just 2-of-21 from 3-point range. The Badgers won tight NCAA games over Pitt and Xavier, even with him missing all 11 3s he attempted. He can do so much better.

4Justin Jackson, UNC

Overview: Some of us have been waiting on Jackson to become a genuinely great player since he arrived at Carolina, and it’s possible the greatest obstacle to that development was the presence of more experienced teammates such as Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson; and now they’re gone. Jackson will have to display more confidence and toughness, and he’ll have to make more perimeter shots, but UNC always has been best when Jackson has been brightest.

3Dillon Brooks, Oregon

Overview: Brooks was among the nation’s best and most versatile players as a sophomore, and his return to the Ducks makes them the favorite to repeat as Pac-12 champions and a certain preseason top-10 team. They’ll need to replace Elgin Cook’s muscle, but if Brooks had remained in the draft they’d effectively have been without their best creator and best scorer. That’s a lot to lose.

2Josh Hart, Villanova

Overview: Hart was a unanimous first-team All-Big East player whose value to the Wildcats became more evident the deeper they advanced into the NCAAs. He averaged 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds and then scored in double-figures in the final five NCAA Tournament games. He can continue to grow as a perimeter shooter and take on a greater leadership role with guard Ryan Arcidiacono’s four-year career complete. The Wildcats return seven of their nine rotation players, but Arch and center Daniel Ochefu may be the most difficult of anyone to replace. Hart could help cover their absence by developing into a first-team All-America player.

1Grayson Allen, Duke

Overview: It’s still rather a stunner that Allen chose not to enter the draft after an All-America sophomore season. He’s already got an NCAA championship ring, and though his presence will make Duke the favorite for the 2017 title, it does not guarantee it. It will be intriguing to see how Allen blends with new teammates such as Jayson Tatum and Harry Giles.

It doesn’t seem unfair to suggest one area in which Allen can improve is personal maturity, and that’s exactly what Duke will need to happen for a title chase to end happily.